Automatic engine starter



March 13, 1934 J. W. FETZ GERALD AUTOMATIC ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

l/ifi/z M1 772 [4 /2 /47 ATTORNEY.

Maud] 13, 1934", J. W. FHTZ GERALD 135%722 AUTOMATIC ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INN TOR E/ZflE/W/i C A TTOR/VEY Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC ENGINE s'ran'rnn John W. Fitz Gerald, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a. corporation of Delaware Application November 9, 1931, Serial No. 573,952

9 Claims.

an automatic starter system in which the ignition switch is relieved of the heavy burden of the starter motor currents usually incident in such systems.

. A structure embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described, the invention residing in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the engine together with the starting motor and the arrangement of the circuits;

Figure 2 is a detail elevational view on an enlarged scale of a combined ignition and starter switch in open position.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 1, but with the electromagnetically actuated switch eliminated;

Figure 4 is an elevational view similar to Figure 2 showing the modificationof the combined starting and ignition switch.

Referring to Figures 1 and 20f the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout both views, a storage battery 10 supplies current through a circuit 11 to an ignition system, generally designated 12, of a gasoline engine or the like 13 through an ignition switch 14. A second circuit 18 from the battery supplies current to a starting motor 17 through a magnetically actuated switch, generally designated 19.

The ignition switch 14 may comprise a pivotal arm 21 having a contact 22 thereon engageable with a fixed contact 23, the arm 14 being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis 25. A spring 2'? engaging the lever 21 and a stationary support/28 constantly tends to draw the contacts 22 and 23 out of engagement while a leaf spring 30 is fixed to a stationary support 31] and has a hooked end 32 engageable over the lower end of the arm 21 to maintain the contacts 22 and 23 in engagement against the action of the coil spring 27.

A second circuit 33 leads from the storage battery to the magnetically actuated switchj19 and contains a starting switch, generally designated 34, which cooperates with a pressure actuated switch, generally designated 35, in controlling the operation of the magnetic switch 19.

The switch 34. comprises a stationary contact 36 mounted on the base 31 and a movable contact 37 mounted on an arm 38 pivotally connected to the base through a pivot 39. The arm 33 has a bracket 40 therein best shown in Fig. 2. The bracket may be bolted or otherwise suitably fixed to the arm 38 and projects above the arm 38 and has an outstanding arm 43 terminating in a bifurcated end 45. The bifurcated end has a dog c7 pivotally mounted therein, having an arcuate portion 48 and a shoulder 49 whereby the dog is adapted to move downwardly, but is restrained from moving upwardly past the position parallel with the outstanding arm 43.

A spring 51 is fixed to the arm 43 and maintains the dog with the shoulder 49 yieldably in engagement with the inner end of the bifurcated portion. The construction of the dog 47 is such that it passes over the hooked end 33 of the leaf spring 30 on the upward movement and engages the hook 32 on the downward movement to release the arm 21 from contact engaging position.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that in the off position ofthe switch, the arm 21 overlies the arm 43 of the bracket 40, preventing engagement of the contacts 36, 37 previous to the closing of the starting switch, thus preventing'the operation of the starting motor when the ignition switch is off, and that the disconnection of the starting switch disconnects the ignition switch automatically.

The magnetic switch comprises a pair of stationary contacts 53 and 54 adapted to be bridged by an armature 55, the armature being held out of engagement with the contacts 53 and 54 by a coil spring 5'? or the like. A fixed coil 59 is adapted to' be energized by the completion of the circuit through the lines 33 to draw the armature. 55 onto the contacts 53 and 54 to complete the circuit 18 from the storage battery to the starting motor.

The circuit 33 leads from the switch 34 through the coil 59, thence to the pressure actuated switch 35 and to the common ground. The pressure actuated switch 35 comprises a diaphragm chamber 63 and a switch mechanism 64. The switch mechanism is of the snap switchvariety, that is, the switch delays action both in o ning and in closing until a given pressure has been built up behind a diaphragm 66 in the chamber '63. The pressure for the switch is supplied by fluid from the discharge side of a pump 68 through a pipe line 69 branching off the discharge pipe. The pump 68 may be any. of the conventional pumps of the engine, such as for example, the gasoline pump, the water pump or the oil pump, the essential point being that the pump is run from the engine so as to supply fluid under pressure to the chamber in accordance with engine speed to actuate the switch 64.

If desired, other types of switches may be used in place of the switch 35, as for instance, a conventional centrifugally actuated switch.

The modification shown in Figure 3 discloses a starting system similar to' that shown in Figure 1 but with the electromagnetically actuated switch 19 of Figure 1 eliminated. In this modiflcation, a circuit '75 runs from the storage battery through the fluid actuating switch 35 and the manually actuated switch 34 directly to the starting motor and thence to the common ground and returns to the battery. In an installation of this type, it is apparent that both the switch 34 and 35 must be heavy enough to stand the heavy starting currents imposed upon it by the starting motor.

Figure 4 shows the modification of the switch unit 14-34 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 which is adapted to be closed without the ignition switch closing for purposes of test.

The switch 14 is the same as the switch 14 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and comprises the pivotal arm 21 having the contact 22 thereon engageable with the fixed contact 23 mounted on the base, the arm 21 being engageable by the hooked end 32 of the spring 30. The switch 34 comprises a pivoted arm 38 having a contact 3'7 engageable with the fixed contact 3 6to complete the circuit. The arm 38 has a bracketv '7'7 hingedly connected thereto by a hinge member and having another portion of the bracket yieldably held to the arm 38 through a bolt 82 and a spring 83. The provision of the hinge 80 and the bolt-spring 82-83 permits the starting switch to be closed with the ignition switch in offv positionfor testing, but immediately throws the switch 34 out of engagement upon releasing the switch actuating member.

Operation When it is desired to start the engine the switch 64 will normally be closed, due to a lack of fluid pressure within the pipe line 69 and the diaphragm chamber 63.

In the form shown in Figure 1, the ignition switch 14 is first closed completing the circuit 11 from the storage battery 10 through the switch 14 to the ignition system 12. The switch 34, which has heretofore been held with the contacts 36 and 3'7 out of engagement by the arm 21 of the switch 14 may now be closed, completing the circuit 33 from the storage battery 10 through the coil 59 and the normally closed switch 64 to the common ground.

Being that the switch 64 is closed when the engine is not running, as has been heretofore pointed out, the action in closing the switch 34 .iagnetizes the 'coil 59 and draws the armature 55 into engagement with the contacts 53 and 54 to complete the circuit 18 from the storage battery 10 to the motor 17. The starting motor will their operate to turn over the engine and start it in operation.

Upon starting of the engine 13, pressuredmmediately builds up in the pump 68 and supplies fluid under pressure through the line 69 to the diaphragm chamber 63. The fluid under pressure in the diaphragm chamber 63 raises the diaphragm 66 and opens the switch 64 to break the circuit 33 leading to the coil 59.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3, closing of the switch 34 completes the circuit from the storage battery through the circuit '75, the switches 64 and the switch 34 to the starting motor 1'7. Upon the engine 13 starting under its own power fluid pressure builds up beneath the diaphragm 66 and opens the pressure switch 64 cutting off the supply of current from the storage battery to the starting motor. In case the engine stalls, the switch 64 again closes to immediately supply current to the motor 1'7 to restart the engine.

Both the ignition switch 14 and the starting switch 34 are thereafter left closed so that if the engine stalls, the pump 68 stops and pressure in the diaphragm chamber 63 drops to again close the switch 64 and automatically start the engine.

When it is desired to stop the engine, the starting switch 34 is disconnected. In pulling out the starting switch 34, the dog 47 engages the hook 33 on the leaf spring 30 and disengages the hook from the free end of the arm 21. The coil spring 2'7 then acts on the arm 21 to break the circuit 11 to the ignition system 12 thus disconnecting the storage battery from all connection with the engine.

'Having thus described the invention, it is realizedthat it is susceptible to various changes and modifications comingwell within the scope .of one skilled in the art, and it is not, therefore,

desired to limit the invention to the precise formherein shown and described, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for starting an automobile engine including a battery, a starting motor and an ignition system having an ignition switch therein, a first circuit leading from the storage battery to the starting motor and having an electromagnetically operable switch therein adapted when closed to complete the circuit between the battery and the starting motor, an electromagnet to operate said switch, a second circuit leading from the battery to the electromagnet and including therein a manually operable switch and an automatically operable switch connected in series, said automatically operable switch being normally closed when said engine is stopped and adapted to open automatically upon starting of said engine, and means normally preventing the closing of said manually operable switch when said ignition switch is open. 5

2. A device for starting an automobile engine including a battery and starting motor and an ignition system having an ignition switch therein, a first circuit leading from the storage battery to the starting motor and having an electromagnetically operable switch therein adapted when closed to complete the circuit between the battery and the starting motor, an electromagnet to operate said switch, a second circuit leading from the battery to the electromagnet and including therein a manually operable switch and an automatically operable switch connected in series, said automatically operable switch being normally closed when said engine is stopped and adapted toopen automatically upon starting of said engine, means normally preventing the closing of said manually operable switch when said ignition switchis open, and means to open said ignition switch upon opening of said manually actuated switch.

3. In a device for starting an automobile engine including a. battery, a starting motor, an ignition system having an ignition switch therein, a first circuit leading from the storage battery to the starting motor and having an electromagnetically operable switch therein adapted when closed to complete the circuit between the battery and the starting motor, an electromagnet to operate said switch, a second circuit leading fromthe battery to the electromagnet and including therein a manually operable switch and a switch responsive to fluid pressure connected in series, said last named switch being normally closed when said engine is stopped, means on said engine to supply fluid under pressure to actuate said switch upon starting of the engine, and means normally preventing the closing of said manually operable switch when the ignition switchis open.

4. In a device for starting an internal combustion engine including a storage battery, an electric starting motor and an ignition system having an ignition switch therein, a circuit leading from said storage battery to said-starting motor and including therein an automatically operable switch and a manually operable switch connected in series, said automatically operable switch being normally closed when said engine is stopped and adapted to open automatically upon starting of said engine, said manually operable switch being independently operable, and means restraining the closure of said manually operable switch as long as the ignition switch is open.

5. In a device for starting an internal com bustion engine including a battery, an electric starting motor and an ignition system having an ignition switch therein, a circuit leading from said battery to said starting motor and including therein an automatically operable switch and a manually operable switch connected in series, said automatically operable switch, being closed when said engine is stopped and adapted to open automatically upon starting of said engine, said manually operable switch being independently operable, and means yieldingly resisting closure of said manually operable switch when said ignition switch is open.

6. In a starting system for internal combustion engines having an ignition system with an ignition switch therein, said system including a battery and an electric starting motor, electric circuit means to connect the starting motor with the battery, an automatically operable switch adapted to eifect disconnection of the starting motor from the battery, said automatically operable switch being normally closed when the engine is stopped and automatically operable to open position upon starting of the engine, and a manually operable starting switch in series with the automatically operable switch and adapted to effect the connection of said starting motor with the battery through said electric circuit means, said manually operable switch being held open whenthe ignition switch is open and requiring manual actuation separate from the actuation of the ignition switch to close the same.

7. In a starting system for internal combustion engines having an ignition system with an ignition switch therein, said system including a battery and an electric starting motor, electric circuit means to connect the starting motor with the battery, an automatically operable switch adapted to effect disconnection of the starting motor from the battery, said automatically operable switch being normally closed when the engine is stopped and automatically operable to open position upon starting of the engine,'a. manually operable starting switch in series with the automatically operable switch and adapted to effect the connection of said starting motor with the battery through said electric circuit means, said manuallyopefable switch being held open when the ignition switch is open and requiring'manual actuation separate from the actuation of the ignition switch to close the same, and means to open the ignition switch upon opening of the manually operable starting switch.

8. In a starting system for internal combustion engines having an ignition system, said starting system including a starting motor and a battery, an ignition switch for said ignition system, a starting switch to effect the connection of said starting motor with the battery, said ignition switch and starting switch requiring manual actuation to close the same, means to hold the starting switch open as long as the ignition switch is open, and means operable upon the starting of the engine to efiect the disconnection of the starting motor from the battery.

9. In a starting system for internal combustion engines having an ignition system, said starting system including a starting motor and a battery, an ignition switch for said ignition system, a starting switch to efiect the connection of said starting motor with the battery, said ignition switch and starting switch requiring manual actuation to close the same, means to hold the starting switch open as long as the ignition switch is open, means operable upon the starting of the engine to effect the disconnection of the starting motor from the battery, and means to effect the opening of theignition switch upon the opening of the starting switch.

JOHN W. FITZ .GERALD. 

